Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar by Roderick Kiracofe

A book review.

Considering my great love for books, especially fabric, patchwork and quilting books, I really should write about them more often, especially the gems! Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 is exactly that - a big, heavy book with glossy pages showcasing approximately 150 unique and unexpected quilts from 1950-2000 made predominantly by anonymous quilters. This is also my favorite addition to my quilt book library for 2014. A gem.

Unknown Pattern c.1950-1975.  Found in Georgia. Cotton.

Double Wedding Ring (variation) c.1930-1950.  Found in Texas. Cotton.

The quilts showcased in the book represent ten years of gathering, collecting and curating by Roderick Kiracofe, a renowned quilt authority and collector. The quilts represent an era that has previously not been documented, and unlike the quilts that replicate traditional patterns of earlier centuries, these quilts represent the improvised style of the modern quilt movement, departing from and then again returning to the traditional.

Fan. c1975-2000.  Found in Wood County, Texas.
Cotton, blends, Polyester. Hand quilted with green thread.

String c.1940-1970.  Attributed to Aunt Etta. Found in Texas.
Rayon, Velvet, Sateen, Tied.

The quilts are not perfect and break all the rules. Instead a state of perfection is found in their quirkiness. These quilts were made for necessity, made to be used. Many of the quilts are heavily pieced with a unique sense of color and the use of various types of cloth.

Mosaic Rose c.1950-2000.  Found in Arkansas.

Polyester Double Knit

The book is more than a picture book and features essays by experts in quilt-making, quilt history, art history, collecting, color, and photography including Denyse Schmidt and Kaffe Fassett, with the quilts organized around the perspectives of each of the contributors.

Cross/Four Patch c.1950-1975.  Found in Pennsylvania.
Cotton, Blends.

This is a book to read from cover to cover so as to discover the history and to celebrate the quilts of fearless yet anonymous quilters  from an era gone by, which but for this book would have remained undocumented. I have spent much time turning the pages, gazing at the quilts and when the house is all quiet I delve into the details, taking in every word and return to the quilts with a new perspective.

Wheel of Fortune c.1960-1980.  Found in Missouri.
Cotton.

With thanks to Roderick Kiracofe for permission to take photographs of the quilts in the book and to use those images here on my blog.

Rita

RELEVANT LINKS:
Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 by Roderick Kiracofe is available from Amazon.
Roderick Kiracofe - author, collector and artist